Hey everybody I'm finally back. Took a little break from writing over Christmas. This isn't something I wanted to write during all the festive joy y'know. Re:Zero isn't really a Christmas pastime. I have just one thing before you go, I have to say thank you to the man, the myth, the legend Tatoes. Thanks for all the support. You guys should check him out. Now enjoy the beginning of arc 2.
"Oh, hey Roswal," Subaru said responding to the lord dressed as a jester. Subaru watched him with the same cold look in his eyes. His face stayed expressionless he didn't bother to smile for Roswal.
"I would like tooo formaaly welcome youu to my home. Doo youuu neeed someone to shooow youu tooo your rooooms." Roswal asked. He looked at Subaru intently. It was like he was waiting for confirmation of something.
"Same place as always?" Subaru asked. I don't care If he finds out I'm looping he probably already knows. When Roswal heard Subaru's words his smile widened slightly. In response to the question, he gave a slight nod. Subaru saw the nod turning around and walking towards the manor's entrance.
"Be suuure tooo join uuus foor diiner aat the uusual tiiime," Roswal called towards him. Subaru kept walking. Subaru reached the door. He opened it and strode into the mansion. Meanwhile, Roswal watched the boy enter. "My, my, the final Roswal will be a lucky man." Roswal verbalized his thoughts. His smile widened further.
Meanwhile, Subaru walked into the familiar mansion. It had been so long since he'd been here. He walked towards his room ignoring the grand tapestries and brilliant architecture. He was too busy thinking. Ok, one of those two points is likely the save point. Either waking up in the carriage or speaking to Roswal. The loop is likely the same except for a different save point and no repeated breakfast. I can ask to begin working at the mansion at dinner. Then handling the mabeasts should be easy. All I need to do is negotiate with Roswal. Rem, Ram, and Emilia can't be involved. Especially Rem she would suffer if that happened. Rem, Rem, Re- No. Not now. Right now I need to be gathering information.
Subaru was too busy thinking about the situation to notice a pair of blue eyes and pink eyes watching from one of the corridors. The eyes followed him as he walked towards them. They observed him. The eyes were narrow. The bodies attached to the eyes were loose yet ready. When he walked by their hallway they were gone. Just in time because right after he passed Subaru's eyes did a sweep of the hallway. No one in that hallway. I'll need accurate information on where the twins were at this time. I can probably find that out at dinner.
Back in Subaru's mind, he was thinking: Alright people in the mansion. We have Emilia-tan, Rem, Ram, Puck, Beako, and Roswal. Emilia-tan is in her room studying. Rem and Ram are somewhere in the mansion. Puck is either with Emilia-tan or Beako. Beako is in the forbidden library. Roswal is outside right now. He is normally in his office though.
Subaru stopped planning as he arrived at the door to his room. He opened the door to a grand Library. It was a massive jungle of towering shelves. A repository of knowledge not seen since Echidna walked the land. This fact gave a clue to its origins. It was Echidna's great creation. A record of all the knowledge she had gathered in her unending curiosity. Echidna. An image of her introducing herself at their first tea party flashed through Subaru's mind. Echidna. Why?
To distract himself from the growing question he searched for another person that he desperately wanted to talk to. Beako, Beako, Beako. His eyes darted across the room searching. She was to his right putting a book back onto the shelves. "Beatrice." He called to the spirit.
"Who are you I suppose, and how did you get past Betty's door crossing?" Beatrice asked irritated.
"Because I am Natsuki Subaru." He pushed an upbeat tone into his voice and forced a smile onto his face. Beako, Beako, Beako. A sensation of tearing. His skin was being torn by Beatrice's nails scratching into him. It was the only way to take on her suffering. Unless I told her I was they. But I'm not they. How else could I have took on her sufferingwithout being they? I'm not they. It was necessary. Right? Please, Echidna. Echidna? Echidna I'm in your library please just say something. Anything.
Outside of Subaru's mind, Beatrice had grown dissatisfied with this answer. She moved forward pressing her palm into Subaru's stomach. "Not too much mana. I'll need some later." Subaru said. I need to at least be able to use shamac. That will help with the mabeasts.
"I will only take as much as I need, I suppose." Beatrice began to drain a small amount of Subaru's mana. When she did so her eyes widened. With his mana in hand, she had gained a slight knowledge of his emotional state. In her mind she commented: He's like-
"Get out now." A blast of air shot from Beatrice's palm sending Subaru back into the hallway.
Beako. Why? That was all Subaru could think about. Subaru stood. He didn't try to open another door to talk to Beatrice again. Let me take on your suffering. He simply walked forward with his head down. Only I need to suffer. He grabbed the door handle walking into his room. He walked in side before arriving in the center. He just stood in the center of the room head down eyes closed. Not you Beako. Only me. Only. Me.
Subaru took both his arms and smacked them into his face. Can't be getting down now I have so much more suffering to take on. Beako you will not suffer. I will take on your suffering no matter what. Even if I have to become the They that left you alone so long. Now, I have to think of a plan. Think, think, think. First step identify locks: Lock one-
A light knock could be heard at the door. Subaru snapped back into reality. Is it? Subaru walked towards the door. His stomach had sunk into the floor, Rem? He asked himself in his mind.
He opened it and on the other side was Rem. Subaru's eyes widened and he pushed a smile onto his face. The smile still fought a battle to stay on Subaru's face, but the battle wasn't as difficult right now. It was Rem. She was here in front of Subaru. She was awake, and people still remembered her. It was Rem.
Rem. Subaru stood there smiling. He was pulled into his memory. Images flashed in his head it was Rem smiling at him. When she told him to stand up when all he wanted was to give up. All the times she gave her life for him to survive. When she fought the white whale alongside him.
Outside of Subaru's mind Rem was looking back at him. She tilted her head. The way the guest was looking at her left her bewildered. She gazed into his eyes. Those eyes are so cold. She observed in her mind.
In her hands, she held a tray of tea. Her sister had told her it would be good to bring tea for their new guest. She stepped into the room walking past the frozen boy. She stepped past him. She missed a step and nearly tripped. That's the witch's scent. She whispered to herself in her mind.
The sound of a tray being set on a desk roused Subaru from his memories. He turned around Rem was bowing her head to him. "Enjoy your tea. Sir." She began to walk towards the exit.
"Hey wait. Come on you brought two cups," Subaru pointed out gesturing to the tray. "You might as well enjoy it with me." I need to talk to you please. Rem.
"Alright if you insist, Guest-sama." She said bowing her head to him.
"Drop the guest thing my name is Subaru." You may not remember me Rem, but at least you're awake.
Rem poured his tea placing the cup on his desk. Then she quickly poured herself a cup; however, while she was pouring she spilled some of the tea onto the tray.
Subaru pulled out the chair from the desk. He sat down and brought the tea to his lips drinking the cup slowly, and elegantly. Images of Echidna drilling tea party etiquette into his mind emerged. Echidna.
Rem on the other hand sat down on the bed across from Subaru. She brought the cup of tea up to her lips and knocked back the cup draining the entire thing. Some of the tea dripped onto her uniform. What is happening? There is no way Rem would spill her sister's tea. The other thing Subaru observed was the expression on Rem's face. It was a grimace, the same look someone gave when they were about to throw up. Nowhere near the normal calm and serene expression Rem usually showed.
"The tea was that bad eh?" Subaru said trying to make a joke. Rem just looked at him eyes narrowing. Dammit didn't add the right tone. I need to have perfect interactions with Rem. Maybe then I'll… Never mind. This loop can't exist anymore.
Subaru got up from his chair and began walking toward the bathroom. Rem can't watch me die. He stepped into the bathroom. Locking the door behind him. Might as well practice my smile before I go. Subaru smiled in the mirror over and over again. After a few minutes of attempts, he finally perfected it. There that's a good smile. He bent down splashing cold water into his face. He leaned over grabbing a towel to dry his face.
While drying his face he heard the sound of wood snapping. Then, he heard the sound of a door swinging open. Subaru ignored the sounds and continued to wipe his face. It doesn't matter I'll be dead in under two minutes.
Subaru heard the sound of chains. Subaru snapped around. Standing there was Rem. Her morning star was out at her side. "Rem," Subaru began, "Why?" Subaru's eyes were cold. But they were no longer the eyes of a corpse.
Rem's eyes narrowed when he asked. All she said was: "Die witch cultist." A ball of spikes came flying towards Subaru's face. Rem, why? Why? Why? "Why?" That was Subaru's last word before his head was crushed in.
Subaru opened his eyes. He wasn't in a dragon carriage. He wasn't talking to Roswal. No, Natsuki Subaru sat at a desk holding a cup of tea in his right hand. Just a short way across from him was Rem. Her cup of tea was empty. Her eyes were narrow her mouth twisted into a frown. Her hands clenching and unclenching on her maid uniform.
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Subaru slapped himself. This caused Rem's eyebrows to point downward eyelids lowering. What sane man would randomly slap themselves? She thought. Back in Subaru's mind, he began to try and formulate a plan. This is the save point I have rou- Rem- Stop! Roughly three minutes Rem, Rem, Rem, Rem, Rem. I need more than three minutes. Subaru stood up and looked at Rem. He forced a smile onto his face. Why? Why? WHY?
Subaru bolted towards the door. He heard Rem stand up behind him. He stretched his arm and reached for the door. He felt Rem's cup of tea slam into the back of his head. He grabbed the door handle and pushed the door open. He heard Rem growling and the sound of her chains clinking behind him. He moved through the doorway slamming it closed before stopping for a millisecond. Which way? He didn't think of an answer instead pivoting to the right.
"Die, witch cultist." Rem shouted. Subaru could hear the sound of wood snapping and shattering behind him. Subaru reached for the next door grabbing the handle pulling the door open. On the other side was just a bathroom. Beako?
Subaru heard chains. He felt they were right in his ear. Subaru's vision felt off. What? It looked like he was viewing the world through a smashed TV. Next, Subaru realized he was on the floor. A dull thud sounded in front of Subaru's eyes was his headless body. What. He could barely think. It was like trying to force his thoughts through sludge. Oh…I…think-
I'm dead. Subaru was sitting at the desk again Rem was across from him. She is already angry. There is no way to stop her right now. I need to find some other way. Why? Why? Why? Does she think I'm a witch cultist? Wait. He thought back remembering how many times he'd used return by death. Over a hundred million. The witch's scent. Rem, why? Rem.
Outside of Subaru's mind Rem's eyes were narrowing. Her nose was twitching. Her hands began to grip her uniform. In Subaru's mind, he was still trying to think of a course of action. Need to find some way to get Rem to stop. Rem, why? Beatrice is still my best way of doing that. Roswal would probably say "This is unfortunate." And then kill me to force another loop. Emilia-tan is on the top floor and I can't burden her with this. Only I need to suffer. Would Ram help? But I don't know where Ram is.
While Subaru was thinking Rem's right hand lost its grip on her maid uniform. Her hand reached into her uniform pulling out a concealed weapon. Rem stood. She assumed a fighting stance. She readied her weapon. Her horn began to manifest on her forehead. "Die, witch cultist!" Rem yelled attacking Subaru.
"Why?" Subaru asked. Rem didn't respond her morning star simply kept going slamming into Subaru's skull. Subaru heard the crunch his skull made as it was pulverized.
Subaru in the desk chair just a few minutes before. I need to find Beako. How do I get out of this room and have some time to try more than one door? Beako. Beako. Beako. Why? Subaru realized something and switched his mind to focus on his gate. I need enough to fill the room. He estimated the amount of mana that would take. He took that mana from his body and pictured it flowing out of him.
"Shamac!" Subaru yelled giving the mana form. He wasted no time looking at Rem. Instead bolting from his chair. Grabbing the handle of the door and pushing it open.
"Witch cultist!" He heard Rem scream in frustration. He ran out of the room slamming the door and pivoting to the right. He sprinted towards the nearest doorway grabbing the handle and pushing the door open. The handle opened to the porcelain shine of a bathroom. Beako? Why?
He ran for the next door. Striving for it. He grabbed the handle pivoting on his left foot and slamming all of his momentum into the door. "Beatrice." He said pleading. On the other side was nothing, just an empty room. He heard the sound of chains behind him.
He ran to the other side of the hallway. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Rem's morning star coming for him. He stopped running for a millisecond. He let his feet catch up to each other. He bent his knees building up power. He threw his arms back behind him. He pushed off of his feet launching himself towards the door. Knees straight, and arms stretching in front of him. He flew towards the door body horizontal. For a moment he was parallel with the ground. To his right, he saw a ball of spikes careening towards him.
His hands gripped the handle of the door. "Beako!" He yelled pleading. He turned the handle. Rem's morning star collided with his torso. His entire midsection from the bottom of his ribcage to his pelvis crumpled and tore off. He held on to the door handle as everything below his ribcage was ripped off.
Subaru used his remaining weight to turn the doorknob. What little was left of him pulled the door out. On the other side was just a storage closet where the extra vases were kept. Subaru's mind was fading and all he could think was: Beako, Rem, why? His mind continued to fade until all he could register was the feeling of his blood pouring out.
Subaru couldn't keep his eyelids open anymore and they began to close. His eyes continued closing until his dying eyes saw a color. It was pink. Something pink was standing over him. He heard a soft sound. "Fula." He felt a faint cutting in his neck. His vision began to fade. He was rolling. He stopped. Subaru felt something stopping him. What is that? Subaru's eyes landed on something in front of him. It was the top of a human body and its head was cut off at the neck. I…wonder…where the…head went…
Subaru was at his desk a cup of tea in his right hand. WHY? WHY? WHY? Beako, why? Dammit alright get it together you can solve this loop. I need to take on everyone's suffering. Ok, think. Ram was there. So she's in the vicinity. I'll need to slow Rem down with a Shamac to reach her. But will she kill me? No, I don't think Roswal has ordered it Rem is acting independently. REM, REM. WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?
Outside Subaru's mind Rem was beginning to grow angry. The witch's scent had gotten worse. It filled the room Rem could barely stand, and she could barely think. "Witch cultist." She whispered hoarsely. Inside of Subaru's mind, he began to think of his plan. Use this loop to think once the next loop starts I'll use Shamac immediately. Then try and find Ram.
"Die, witch cultist." Rem's rage reached a boiling point. She attacked crushing the boy's skull with her morning star.
The cup of tea in Subaru's hand shook. He hadn't been expecting Rem to attack that fast. She's getting to the point of killing me faster. REM.
Subaru stopped his own thinking switching to his gate. "Shamac!" He pushed a black cloud of mana out of his body. He stood up so quickly his chair fell to the ground. He ran towards the door. He didn't bother to turn the handle. Subaru just put his shoulder in front of him. He collided with the door ramming himself into it. The hinges resisted, but the wood holding the door to the hinges snapped off. The door fell. Natsuki Subaru fell with it. But before he could hit the ground he planted his right foot and stretched out his left hand and pushed it flat to the floor. He gathered power into his right foot and launched himself into a sprint.
Subaru ran down the hallway. Behind him, he heard a shout, "WITCH CULTIST!" It was Rem from the sound Subaru guessed she was still in the room.
Subaru responded with a shout of his own, "RAM!" He screamed pleading. His eyes held a look they hadn't held since the sanctuary. He needed to reach Ram had to. He must reach her. Natsuki Subaru was desperate. He felt newfound desperation. The desperation to reach Ram. The desperation to take on everyonessuffering. The desperation to take on everyone's suffering. And the desperation to not have to watch Rem kill him. "RAM! Please, RAM!"
Rem began to emerge from the doorway Subaru had escaped from. She lifted her morning star. Her eyes filled with a great fire. "DON'T SAY MY SISTER'S NAME WITCH CULTIST." She screamed. The sound resounded across the hallway. A pink horn began to manifest on Rem's forehead. For a witch cultist to call her sister's name after what they'd done to her. It angered Rem to the point her horn appeared on its own.
Subaru kept running trying to ignore the screams he was hearing from Rem. Ahead of him, he saw a color, it was pink, in front of him. It was Ram turning into the hallway. He saw her pink eyes when she turned. Subaru launched himself off of his right leg. Towards Ram the one possibility of salvation.
Before he could reach her he felt a blunt impact to the back of his head.
Subaru nearly dropped the cup of tea. His breathing was heavy. I was close. I was so close. So close. REM. REM. REM. REM. REM. REM. REM. Alright, loop objective get to Ram. His eyes took on a determined look.
A dream I saw a dream. A dream that had pink hair at the end. A dream that would repeat until I could reach that pink hair. A dream that wouldn't end.
Subaru burst from the room shouting for Ram. Rem followed right behind him. I didn't use Shamac. Dammit. Rem, why? He ran forward desperation filling his eyes. He ran toward the light at the end of the tunnel. His pink salvation. Towards Ram. His right foot hit the ground. He pushed off his foot. He alternated his left foot, but it didn't connect to the ground. He didn't have a left foot. It had been ripped off by Rem's morning star. Subaru fell his face colliding with the carpet of the mansion. His front two teeth slammed into the carpet and pushed into his gums. "Rem please." He asked desperately. His head was pulverized.
He used Shamac as he burst from the room. Rem was too surprised and caught up in the magic to follow right away. He shouted for Ram. He begged for Ram to help him. He pumped his arms as he ran. His lungs and heart felt aflame. His right arm moved past his face. Then down and his left arm rose. Subaru heard chains behind him. Please, Rem. His left arm was torn off. Rem pulled the chains back. A metal ball of spikes came towards Subaru's neck. Please, Rem. If you keep doing this then I'll… Subaru's neck was crushed.
He ran down the hallway. He moved his legs. Back and forth. He began running from side to side. Zig zagging. He ran frantically. Desperation rose in his chest. It moved him faster. He was not running from death. He was not afraid of death. He hadn't feared death since the Sanctuary. No, he was running from something else. Something he didn't want to feel. He zagged to the left dodging that ball of spikes. Rem swung her weapon to the left. Chains hit Subaru's right side. More chains hit his chest. Chains hit his left side. Before he knew it Subaru was wrapped in cold chains. Please, Rem, stop. Why? Rem. Why did you betray me? Rem yanked the chains backward with all the strength of an oni. Images flashed in his mind. Him sitting at Rem's bedside. He sat there each day for thousands, no millions of days. Natsuki Subaru's spine was crushed.
He saw Ram. She had turned the corner. He had made it to a point where he could see her. Ram. She was the only person who could help him now. He heard the sound of chains. He felt a blunt pain in his back. Rem why did you betray me? Subaru ran from this feeling. He knew his own mind. No, my death is not worth this feeling. My worthless life is not worth this feeling. Subaru hated that no matter how he rationalized it the growing sentiment could not be suppressed. No, my life isn't worth this. Please no. Please! He was not pleading to live he never was. His ribcage was crushed from behind. Rem's weapon went through his chest. Ram looked at the boy. She had a remorseful look in her eye. She did the only thing she could do now. "Fula." Natsuki Subaru's head fell to the ground.
His head was crushed in. Please I don't want to feel this. He saw Ram. No. I don't want to feel it. His head was crushed again. I hate myself for having this feeling. His head was crushed again and again. I will give anything to not feel this. Please! I'll give you anything. His body was crushed. I'll give my life one hundred thousand times. I'll give anything. I'll face the great rabbit alone a million times. I don't want to feel this. Natsuki Subaru strived and was crushed, reached, and was pulverized, tried, and was shattered, ran, and was broken, failed, and was annihilated. I feel this and there is nothing I can do.
Subaru collapsed out of his chair. I feel this. I feel this. The cup of tea shattered in his hand. Rem- Some of the fragments bit into his hand. Blood began to drip from his right hand. Rem stood up from where she was sitting on the bed. Rem I- She pulled out her morning star. "Witch cultist." She readied her arm. Rem I-
"WHY?" Why do I feel this? It was a scream from the boy, "WHY?" Rem I- He screamed again. It was not the scream of a madman Rem realized. It was a scream of pain. Of anger. Anger at the world. It was the scream of a man who desperately wanted to know why.
Rem hesitated. He doesn't sound like a witch cultist. But that smell. She reached up to attack. Before she was interrupted by the boy again, "WHY? WHY? WHY?" Why do I feel this? The screams were so loud it hurt Rem's ears. Rem I-
The boy was there on his hands and knees. He pushed himself off of his hands. Until he was sitting there on the wooden floor kneeling. "WHY?" Why do I feel this? His voice hurt Rem's ears further. She could hear the boy's voice fraying. She could hear his mind begin to collapse. She readied her arm again. "Witch-" She stopped when she heard a sound. It was a drop of liquid splashing on the ground. If not for her oni senses she wouldn't have heard it. She looked at the boy's face again. He was crying. Tears falling to the ground. "Why?" It was a soft whisper from the boy. Why do I feel this? Rem I-
"I-"Rem didn't know what to say. "I-" She was cut off as the boy's eyes turned to her. Those eyes. Rem I- They were not the cold eyes from a few minutes ago. Those eyes. Rem I hate you.
Told you Suffaru was going to make an appearance. The next chapter won't be nearly as dark. This chapter may have been the darkest in the entire story. So if you were able to make it through that you should be able to make it through the rest. Well, I'll see all of you in a few days bye. P.S. sorry if some of those sentences in the middle of the action scenes were weird. The only action I've written is this chapter and Reinhardt from the last chapter, so I'm still figuring stuff out.